Plastic cover on engine. Should I take it off or does it serve a purpose?

This has been driving me nuts. haha. I have had one person tell me to take the cover off due to heat, which makes sense to me. However, I had a buddy tell me that it may be helping to dissipate the heat through some weird scientific reason that he gave me :/

What should I do? Should I take it off permanently, take it off when I'm at the track, or just leave it on?

I'm not scientist and I haven't done any testing, but I can't imagine that it makes that much difference either way. Go with what makes you happiest when you look at it. I took mine off to install the Vararam and never looked back.

It serves two purposes, reduce engine noise and adds a cleaner look to the engine bay...that being said, the cover is basically like putting an insulating blanket on your engine and will do nothing but create heat soak...i.e. trapping heat inside of the engine...I don't forsee it causing any adverse issues for daily driving, but you would definitely want to remove it if you are at the track...

I'm going to assume you mean the big engine cover that has a hole for the oil fill, and not the small intake cover thats under it.

I had mine off for a couple days. Made considerably more noise inside the car (and not a good noise IMO). If it's not an intake noise, and it's not an exhaust noise, I really don't care to hear it inside the car.

Take it off and try it out yourself. It's a 10 second procedure. I would say the majority of people here have removed theirs.

I'm going to assume you mean the big engine cover that has a hole for the oil fill, and not the small intake cover thats under it.

I took both of them off the first week I had the car, in order to fit the 'gto-like' twin Holden valve covers on. Haven't looked back since. You need to SHOW OFF a 6 liter V8, not hide it under an NVH cover.

Just want to add that anything put on by the factory will not cause driveability issues. For example if you are in bumper to bumper traffic in 100F weather, the car will not overheat because of the cover. As others have said, it's for noise abatement and to clean up the engine bay.

The GTO style covers are the best, I don't know why they changed it other than maybe because of the AFM hardware is too loud and they needed to install a full engine cover to supress the sound? Either way the GTO style covers FTW!

I took both of them off the first week I had the car, in order to fit the 'gto-like' twin Holden valve covers on. Haven't looked back since. You need to SHOW OFF a 6 liter V8, not hide it under an NVH cover.

All fuel rail covers and other stupid covers need to be removed as soon as you buy the car. Their initial "purpose" is to reduce engine noise in the cabin but the only thing they really accomplish is causing heat soak and power loss. We need a HUGE difference on our Auto-x cars removing those covers.

I've seen 3-6 degrees of knock vanish instantly on a hot engine removing the covers.

I took both of them off the first week I had the car, in order to fit the 'gto-like' twin Holden valve covers on. Haven't looked back since. You need to SHOW OFF a 6 liter V8, not hide it under an NVH cover.

I don't necessarily agree. I never let people look under my hood so I have nothing to show off. When I was working on my car the other day, some dude came up with his friend and asked me how much it cost to put all brambo brakes on. I told him the car is stock. Then one of his friends said outloud "Dude, this is the GXP, it's got the LSX454 in it!" And his friend asked me to pop my hood, but out of the laughter I had for him thinking I had a LSX454 under the hood, I denied him. I just told him if he wants to know what is under the hood, I will show him if he wins a race against me. He denied to race me saying he knows the LSX454 would waste him lol.

I never told them the secret of the fact I only have the LS3 under, but I guess it is only for me to know since it is rightfully only my car. But I don't think people that pop their hood shouldn't. Just their choice. I really wish the GXP did come with a LSX454 though lol! That would be INSANE!

The engine cover protects the intake manifold, wiring, etc.. from dust, debris, etc... in dusty and dirty air environments. If you plan on your car as a daily driver, keep it on, otherwise a weekend car can go without. Though there is slight heat containment by the cover, the intake manifold cover is heat insulated as well (so I'm told). The removal of the engine cover is more aesthetically pleasing for those "popping" the hood. GM has a bad habit of placing bulky engine covers on all their cars. Take a look at all Cadillac, Pontiac, Chevy, etc... cars for the past few years. You will find them on all makes and models.

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